Netflix in Talks for a 10-Episode ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ Prequel Series

There’s been talk about a prequel/sequel to director David Wain’s cult hit Wet Hot American Summer for years now, and now, it looks like that project may wind up being a prequel TV series. Variety reports that Netflix is in talks to produce a 10-episode series that would serve as a prequel to Wet Hot American Summer. The hypothetical series would be executive produced by Wain and his co-writer on the original film, Michael Showalter, although it’s unclear if they’ll return to write/direct the show. Netflix has declined to comment.

The prequel series will follow the original movie’s characters in high school, with plans to reunite as much of the original cast as possible. Actors will shoot their scenes in just a few days each, and not all of the characters will appear in every episode a la the Netflix season of Arrested Development, which makes sense considering how busy certain Wet Hot American Summer (Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, etc.) alumni are these days.

David Wain first publicly discussed a Wet Hot American Summer prequel in 2011, saying, “The prequel would be the same summer so they would be 20 years old for the part yeah, but not younger. So it would be 40 year olds playing 16 year olds. And yeah, we’re in the early stages of thinking about that.” Cast members Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, and Christopher Meloni were quick to express interest in returning at the time. Wain last gave this update about a year and a half ago, which is the last we’d heard on the project:

It is slowly but surely in the process of being made … I would say we have more than a few pages … Seriously, we’re doing it. I know everyone wants to know. I’m flattered and thrilled, but the creative process has its own time schedule.